Thomas Coleman

was born in Oxfordshire, particularly, as it seems, within the City of Oxon, where several of his name and time have lived, made his first entry into Magd. Hall in the beginning of the year 1615, and in that of his age 17, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders, and became so accomplish’d in the Hebrew Language, that he was commonly called Rabbi Coleman. Afterwards he was made Rector of Blyton in Lincolnshire, but being schismatically enclined, he left that place in the beginning of the civil War, 1642, under pretence of persecution by the Cavaliers, and retiring to the great City, became a grand Covenanteer, an inve [•] gher against the King and his Party, against the Bishops and Orthodox Clergy, one of the Assembly of Divines, Rector of S. Peters Church in Cornhill in the place of a loyal Doctor ejected, and a Preacher before the Parliament. While he sate in the Assembly, to which he was chiefly called for his language in the Hebrew tongue, he behaved himself modestly and learnedly, maintaining among them the tenets of Erastus. His works are these.

Several Sermons, as (1) The Christians cause and complaint, &c. Fast-sermon before the House of Commons, on Jerem. 8.20. Lond. 1643. qu. (2) The hearts engagement, Serm. at S. Margarets in Westm. at the publick entring into the Covenant, 29 Sept. 1643, on Jer. 30.21. last clause. Lond. 1643. qu. There were then present some Noblemen and Gentlemen, many Soldiers and People of all sorts; and looking on the Soldiers he told them that the Covenant was the Parliaments sword and buckler. For when the Cavaliers shall see you come arm’d with the Covenant, they will run, run, run away from the Lord of Hosts, &c. (3) Gods unusual answer to a solemn Fast, Fast-serm. before both houses on Psal. 65.5. Lond. 1644. qu. preached upon the sad success that the Parliament Forces had in Cornwall. (4) Hopes defer’d and dashed, Fast-serm. before the H. of Com. on Job 11.20. Lond. 1645. qu. He was not thanked for this sermon according to custom, but only ordered to print it, because the Presbyterian Party disliked him, for that he too slightly spoke of ministerial Authority, and seemed not to dislike the Independent &c. In his Epist. ded. to the H. of Com. he saith thus, “There was never Sermon preached on these publick Fasts, that was received with such contrary Affections, and Censures as this; some approving above commendation, others disliking below detestation, &c.” Soon after George Gillespie a Presbyterian Minister of Edenburgh, educated in S. Andrews University, did not only preach against the said sermon in another delivered before the H. of Lords, and in a second elsewhere, but also printed them in vindication of the Presbyterians, whereupon our Author Coleman published,

A brotherly Examination examined: or, a clear justification of those passages in a Sermon, against which the rev. and learned Commissioner Mr. Gillespie first in two several Sermons, and then in print, did preach and write. Lond. 1646. qu. To which is added,

A short discovery of some tenets and principles which entrench upon both the honour and power of the Parliament—What else our Author hath written, I find not, only a thing called A modell as the Author of A Friendly debate ((b))((b)) In the third part printed 1672 p. 386. in marg. tells us, which was briefly viewed and answer’d in 1645, but neither the Modell or Answer have I yet seen. He died suddenly about the beginning of the year sixteen hundred forty and seven,1647. but where buried I cannot tell, because the register of St. Peters in Cornhill mentions him not. I find one Tho. Coleman Minister of Allhallows Barkin near the Tower of London, who published a Sermon intit. Justification justified, an. 1653, but of what University he was, I know not yet. As for G. Gillespie before-mention’d, he was a high Covenanteer, had some good learning, but was very antiprelatical and bold beyond all measure. He wrot against the ceremonies, several pieces against the Erastians, and died about 1649. In the month of January 1660, the tombstone of this Gillespie (who had also written a seditious book, intituled his Last Will and Testament) was, according to an order of the Committee of Estates in Scotland, fetcht from the burial place, and on a Market-day broke by the Common-hangman at the cross of Kirkadie, where he had formerly been Minister.